Warning sign

ABSTRACT

A portable warning sign including a sign panel, a lens at one edge of the panel, and a battery casing handle extending outwardly of lens portion and supporting batteries and light bulb operable within the lens.

United States Patent Hoover Inventor:

Filed:

WARNING SIGN William W. Hoover, 725 Grant St.,

Chenoa, 111. 61726 May 11, 1972 Appl. No.: 252,358

1.1.8. C1. 340/84, 40/129 A, 40/130 R,

Int. Cl G08b 5/00, G09f 13/00 Field of Search 40/129 R, 129 A, 130 R,

40/130 K, 125 N; 116/63 P; 340/84, 107, 321

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller et a1 40/130 R UX French340/321 Klink 40/129 A Slater 340/144 UX Slater 340/87 [451 May 7,1974

1,820,157 8/1931 Prochazka 40/130 R 2,533,235 12/1950 Feek 40/130 R2,638,583 5/1953 Edwards 340/321 2,994,971 8/1961 Meisenheimer et a140/130 K X 3,078,452 2/1963 Olson 340/107 X 3,139,611 6/1964 Fleming340/321 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLlCATlONS 646,230 9/1962 llaly 340/321Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant ExaminerKenneth N. LeimerAttorney, Agent, or Firm--Coffee and Sweeney 5 7] ABSTRACT A portablewarning sign including a sign panel, a lens at one edge of the panel,and a battery casing handle extending outwardly of lens portion andsupporting batteries and light bulb operable within the lens.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 7 I974 llllHlllll FIG. 2

WARNING SIGN BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object ofthis invention to meet the need and desire in the art for an improvedhand held lighted warning sign which is simple in construction,economical to manufacture and sell, light in weight for ease of use,andreliable in operation.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the inventionincludes the provision of a single thickness sign panel having a lensalong one portion of an edge of the panel. The lens terminates in anopening of a size and shape to receive a handle in the form of a handflashlight battery casing and light bulb. The flashlight casing housesdry cell batteries for operating the bulb and also serves as a handle orsupporting standard for the sign panel.

In a modified form of the invention, a six volt dry cell battery housingmay be formed as part of a handle support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofthe warning sign of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the warning sign of this invention;and 7 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section view of a portion of thewarning sign of this invention, taken generally along the line 33 ofFIG. 2, with portions broken away for clarity of illustration.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The warning sign 10 ofthis invention includes a sign panel, generally designated 12, hereshown in an octagonal shape, which is conventional for indicating Stop.Preferably, the sign panel 12 is a relatively thin, sheet-like panel ofplastic, metal or the like, having opposed faces 12a and 12b, either oneof which, or both, may bear an appropriate written message 14, which maybe provided thereon in luminous material to facilitate viewing thereofat night. The sign panel has a peripheral edge 15 defining the octagonalshape and a circular aperture 16 is formed at one portion of the signpanel adjacent the peripheral edge 15. Aperture 16 includes a reducedopening 16a, which extends through the edge 15. A pair of lens members18 are provided on the opposite faces 12a and 12b of the sign paneloverlying the apertures 16.

Each lens member preferably is made of a molded plastic material and hasa peripheral flange portion 20 through which fasteners 22 may extend, aswell as extending through the panel 12, to secure the lens members I8and the sign panel 12 together as a unit. Each lens member has aslightly bulbous and generally segmental paraboloid body 24. This bodymay be divided into a thin peripheral clear lens portion 24a and alarger, colored lens (such as red) portion 24!). Each lens member 18terminates in a semi-circular neck portion 26 having an arcuate channel26a therein. The two lens members 18 with the semi-circular neckportions together provide a generally circular cylindrical openinghaving a circular recess or channel therein for receiving the roundedflange 32 of one end of the handle portion 34.

Handle portion 34 is generally a hollow cylindrical structure ofsuitably rigid material such as metal, plastic or the like and generallyhas the configuration of a conventional hand held flashlight body.Handle 34 includes a rear screw cap 36 with an inwardly facing spring 38connected therewith. The hollow interior of the handle 34 is intended toreceive and support dry cell batteries 40 of the conventional C or D"size. An on/off switch 42 is provided for selectively energizing oractivating the batteries 40 to thereby activate the bulb 44 supported bythe handle 34 and therefore illuminate the elns 24 which will cast lightacross the exterior of the opposite faces 12a and 12b of the panel 12.Preferably, bulb 44 would be of the well known intensity type.

Thus, it can be seen that the warning sign of this invention possessesunique structure affording resultant advantages in the manufacture anduse thereof. Basically, the warning sign of this invention utilizes atleast one face of a sheet-like sign panel and a small lens on a portionof the sign panel face when the bulb within the lens is activated. As aresult, the structure possesses very few parts, is easily assembled, andthe face of the sign panel is more adequately lighted than with a lightbulb located in an interior of a chamber defined by two sign panels.Furthermore, the structure is light in weight so as to be easily haldand is believed to be more reliable in operation. The simplicity ofstructure permits it to be manufactured and sold less expensively thanwarning signs shown in the prior art.

The foregoing detailed'description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

I claim: 1. A portable warning sign, comprising: a sheet-like sign panelmember having opposed faces, a peripheral edge and an opening along oneportion of the peripheral edge;

lens means overlying said opening in the sign panel member and having alightbulb therein for illuminating the lens means and the opposed panelfaces, said lens means being rounded and extending beyond the plane ofthe panel faces, the lens means being generally translucent andincluding a transparent light transmitting peripheral band;

handle means connected to the panel member adjacent to said lens means,said handle means having means for supporting a source of power for saidlightbulb; and

switch means associated with said handle means for selectivelyenergizing said lightbulb from said source of power for illuminating thebulb.

2. The warning sign of claim 1 wherein the lens means extends outwardlyfrom both faces of the sign panel members and wherein a tubular handlecapable of receiving dry cell batteries and supporting a light bulb isreceived within a peripheral opening in the lens means.

3. The warning sign of claim 2 wherein the lens means includes aperipheral flange which is secured to the sign panel member about theopening therein.

1. A portable warning sign, comprising: a sheet-like sign panel memberhaving opposed faces, a peripheral edge and an opening along one portionof the peripheral edge; lens means overlying said opening in the signpanel member and having a lightbulb therein for illuminating the lensmeans and the opposed panel faces, said lens means being rounded andextending beyond the plane of the panel faces, the lens means beinggenerally translucent and including a transparent light transmittingperipheral band; handle means connected to the panel member adjacent tosaid lens means, said handle means having means for supporting a sourceof power for said lightbulb; and switch means associated with saidhandle means for selectively energizing said lightbulb from said sourceof power for illuminating the bulb.
 2. The warning sign of claim 1wherein the lens means extends outwardly from both faces of the signpanel members and wherein a tubular handle capable of receiving dry cellbatteries and supporting a light bulb is received within a peripheralopening in the lens means.
 3. The warning sign of claim 2 wherein thelens means includes a peripheral flange which is secured to the signpanel member about the opening therein.